Wicken Fen

As The National Trust’s first nature reserve, Wicken Fen gives a window into a lost landscape of wetland that once covered the East Anglian lowlands. This unique habitat is home to 9,000 recorded species, including rare birds, plants and dragonflies.

What to do

Look out and listen for the booming bitterns and cuckoos in spring and look forward to rare orchids and dragonflies in summer. Find a full guide of what to look out for this spring here.

Explore the remarkable Fen by foot, bike or boat:

By foot

With plenty of trails to choose from, for short walks try the Fen Boardwalk Trail around the ancient Sedge Fen, or walk along the Monk’s Lode returning via Wicken Village. Or the Wicken Fen Adventurers Trail takes you on a three-mile walk exploring new areas of wetland.

By bike

Plenty of cycling routes catering for families with short easy paths, or longer off-road trails for the adventurous, it’s a pleasure to explore Wicken Fen by bike. Full details of cycle routes available here.

By boat

Enjoy a peaceful 50-minute trip up the waterways of Wicken Fen on the ‘Mayfly’. Trips run from Easter to October.

Wimpole Estate

Wimpole Hall. (Image: Warren Gunn)

Wimpole Estate comprises the impressive country mansion, the largest house in Cambridgeshire, surrounded by extensive gardens and woodland and the working Home Farm, one of the UK’s largest rare breeding centres.

What to do

Explore the architecture of the country house, marvel at the dramatic yellow drawing room and unusual features and catch a glimpse of what life used to be life below stairs.

Take a leisurely stroll around the extensive grounds and enjoy the walled garden, pleasure grounds, ancient woodland and parklands.

Don’t forget to visit the animals at Home Farm before you leave, with many interesting and rare breeds of livestock including cattle, pigs, horses and sheep.

Lambing season begins on April 18 and you’re likely to see a lamb being born or only hours old if you visit. With daily events including shire horse carriage rides, there’s plenty to do for all the family.

Where? Wimpole Estate, Old Wimpole Road, Arrington, Cambridge

When? Different parts of the estate operate on different opening hours but all are open from 11am-5pm.

The Houghton Mill Waterclose Meadows

Houghton Mill. (Image: Warren Gunn)

Set in an idyllic location, on an island on the Great Ouse River, Houghton Mill is an 18th century working watermill, which was saved by the local villagers after it was almost demolished. The tradition of milling has continued on this site for more than 1,000 years.

What to do

Experience the atmosphere (and sound!) of a traditional working mill, even have a go at making flour and enjoy the peaceful riverside setting.

The Mill House has an exhibition of late 19th and early 20th century paintings showing the mill and local area how it would have been more than 100 years ago.

Take walks along the riverbank and through the Waterclose Meadows, or enjoy it by bike and cycle through the local historic towns and pretty villages.

If you’d like to follow the river, try canoeing along the Great River Ouse and its tributaries from Houghton Mill through the meadows to St Ives and Huntingdon.